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Gender Responsive Strategies for Women Offenders in Drug Court

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Looking at safety and risk assessment, this video focusses on Balanced Competition and explains how some sports events are balanced by age or by gender. It explains why sports may have balanced competitions according to age or gender and examples of sports that do this, Suitable for GCSE PE courses.

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The media could be used as a powerful tool in challenging traditional ideas about gender in sport. Sportspeople could be featured participating in less conventional sporting roles for their gender to expand the notions of femininity and masculinity. The language the media uses in reporting events and the images they use should be considered carefully for the implications they convey to young people who are developing a sense of identity.

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How sport is represented in the media has the ability to affect our emotions, shape our values and determine our understanding of an event. Messages associated with masculinity and femininity are often portrayed by a media commentary, the positioning of an article, the wording of a headline or the focus of a photograph.

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Women athletes in the media are primarily constructed as a passive and supportive. Often, their athletic ability is reported as secondary to their looks, fashion sense and emotional response to their achievements.

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Abstract

Sports spectators usually experience sportsthrough different mass media. To deepen ourunderstanding of the cultural values embedded in sportsand to explore current values and power structuresregarding men and women, it is necessary to investigatethe potential effect that mass media may have ininfluencing beliefs about gender-appropriate sportbehavior. In several cases previous studies have shownbiases in the representation and portrayal ofathletes, particularly with reference to gender. Thepresent study examined samples of televised sports inSweden during 1995/96 (1,470 minutes), with a follow-up examination in 1998 (528 minutes). The resultsindicated gender differences regarding both quantity andtype of coverage. For example, less than 10% of thetotal examined sports news time covered female athletes, and less than 2% of the time was usedto cover women athletes in sports categorized asmasculine. It seems that televised media sports coveragecontinues to reinforce constructions of divisions along lines of gender and to reproducetraditional expectations regarding femininity andmasculinity.

Keywords

Gender Difference Social Psychology Potential Effect Mass Media Gender Stereotyping

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REFERENCES

1. Ahlin, T. (1993). Kulturvano r i norden. En undersö kning av kultur-och medievanor i de nordiska lä nderna. Culture activities in the Nordic countries (pp. 88-91). Statistical reports of the Nordic Countries, No. 62. Stockholm: Nordstedts Tryckeri AB.

2. Sveriges Riksidrottsforbund. (1998). http://www.svenskidrott.se/rf/statistik

© Plenum Publishing Corporation 1999

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Gender Stereotyping in Televised Media Sport Coverage

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Sports spectators usually experience sportsthrough different mass media. To deepen ourunderstanding of the cultural values embedded in sportsand to explore current values and power structuresregarding men and women, it is necessary to investigatethe potential effect that mass media may have ininfluencing beliefs about gender-appropriate sportbehavior.

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The media could be used as a powerful tool in challenging traditional ideas about gender in sport. Sportspeople could be featured participating in less conventional sporting roles for their gender to expand the notions of femininity and masculinity. The language the media uses in reporting events and the images they use should be considered carefully for the implications they convey to young people who are developing a sense of identity.

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The media will satisfy consumer demands and tends to promote socially acceptable role models that support the current constructs of femininity and masculinity. The role of media needs to play is to respond to changes in these constructs as they evolve and to present an unbiased perspective of the importance of each.

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The topic is divided into various sub-sections: from defining concepts, to charting the historical progress made in sport and gender policy development, to providing a list of points to bear in mind for the practical application of gender-equity-through-sport programmes.

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Sport is one of the well-published issues in the Net. Sport issues gain a lot of publicity and discussions in the media. The examples are numerous: thousands of football news article depict the reactions of trainers to a particular event. Important soccer games are an everyday issue in TV channels.

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The aim of this lesson is to find out how the media affects sport itself, as well as teams and individuals (Equivalent to UK GCSE Physical Education) The media ...

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This is a link giving you an introduction of how media plays an important role in society & the participation of both male & females in the media.

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Page contents

Introduction

Media play important roles in society. They report on current events, provide frameworks for interpretation, mobilise citizens with regard to various issues, reproduce predominant culture and society, and entertain (Llanos and Nina, 2011). As such, the media can be an important actor in the promotion of gender equality, both within the working environment (in terms of employment and promotion of female staff at all levels) and in the representation of women and men (in terms of fair gender portrayal and the use of neutral and non-gender specific language).

Participation and influence of women in the media

Studies have found that although the number of women working in the media has been increasing globally, the top positions (producers, executives, chief editors and publishers) are still very male dominated (White, 2009). This disparity is particularly evident in Africa, where cultural impediments to women fulfilling the role of journalist remain (e.g. travelling away from home, evening work and covering issues such as politics and sports which are considered to fall within the masculine domain) (Myers, 2009). The Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) reports that throughout the world, female journalists are more likely to be assigned 'soft' subjects such as family, lifestyle, fashion and arts. The 'hard' news, politics and the economy, is much less likely to be written or covered by women.

The level of participation and influence of women in the media also has implications for media content: female media professionals are more likely to reflect other women's needs and perspectives than their male colleagues. It is important to acknowledge, however, that not all women working in the media will be gender aware and prone to cover women's needs and perspectives; and it is not impossible for men to effectively cover gender issues. Recent research from 18 disparate countries shows that male and female journalists' attitudes do not differ significantly (Hanitzsch & Hanusch, 2012). Nonetheless, the presence of women on the radio, television and in print is more likely to provide positive role models for women and girls, to gain the confidence of women as sources and interviewees, and to attract a female audience.

Media content and portrayal of men and women in the media

Fair gender portrayal in the media should be a professional and ethical aspiration, similar to respect for accuracy, fairness and honesty (White, 2009). Yet, unbalanced gender portrayal is widespread. The Global Media Monitoring Project finds that women are more likely than men to be featured as victims in news stories and to be identified according to family status. Women are also far less likely than men to be featured in the world's news headlines, and to be relied upon as 'spokespeople' or as 'experts'. Certain categories of women, such as the poor, older women, or those belonging to ethnic minorities, are even less visible.

Stereotypes are also prevalent in every day media. Women are often portrayed solely as homemakers and carers of the family, dependent on men, or as objects of male attention. Stories by female reporters are more likely to challenge stereotypes than those filed by male reporters (Gallagher et al., 2010). As such, there is a link between the participation of women in the media and improvements in the representation of women.

Men are also subjected to stereotyping in the media. They are typically characterised as powerful and dominant. There is little room for alternative visions of masculinity. The media tends to demean men in caring or domestic roles, or those who oppose violence. Such portrayals can influence perceptions in terms of what society may expect from men and women, but also what they may expect from themselves. They promote an unbalanced vision of the roles of women and men in society.

Attention needs to be paid to identifying and addressing these various gender imbalances and gaps in the media. The European Commission (2010) recommends, for example, that there should be a set expectation of gender parity on expert panels on television or radio and the creation of a thematic database of women to be interviewed and used as experts by media professionals. In addition, conscious efforts should be made to portray women and men in non-stereotypical situations.

Gallagher, M. et al. (2010). 'Who Makes the News? Global Media Monitoring Project 2010′, World Association for Christian Communication, London and Toronto
To what degree is the news media democratic, inclusive and participatory from a gender perspective? This report presents findings of a survey taken on one 'ordinary' news day to record the portrayal and representation of women and men in the news media. The results are compared with previous surveys, taken every four years since 1995, to illustrate longitudinal trends. Women are underrepresented in news coverage, resulting in an unbalanced representation of the world.

European Commission. (2010). 'Opinion on "Breaking Gender Stereotypes in the Media", Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, Social Europe, European Commission, Brussels
This report highlights the gap between the reality of women's and men's lives in Europe and how they are portrayed in the media. It proposes measures for the promotion of: balanced and nonstereotyped perspectives; equal opportunities and working conditions in the media sector; and increased participation in and access to expression and decision-making for women in and throughout the media. It calls for an in-depth study of the public image of women generated by the media, including advertising.

Political representation

Toolkits

Participatory community media

Participatory community media initiatives aimed at increasing the involvement of women in the media perceive women as producers and contributors of media content and not solely as 'consumers'(Pavarala, Malik, and Cheeli, 2006). Such initiatives encourage the involvement of women in technical, decision-making, and agenda-setting activities. They have the potential to develop the capacities of women as sociopolitical actors. They also have the potential to promote a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in the media and to challenge the status quo. In Fiji, women who took part in a participatory video project presented themselves as active citizens who made significant contributions to their families and communities. These recorded images improved the status of women in the minds of government bureaucrats.

There are limitations to participatory community initiatives, however. If unaccompanied by changes in structural conditions, participation may not be sufficient to foster substantive social change. Baú (2009) explains that the establishment of a women's radio station (run and managed by women) in Afghanistan faced constraints in that women engaged in self-censorship in order to avoid criticism from local male political and religious leaders.

Pavarala, V., Malik, K. K., and Cheeli, J. R. (2006), 'Community Media and Women: Transforming Silence into Speech', Chapter 3.2 in eds. A. Gurumurthy, P. J. Singh, A. Mundkur and M. Swamy, Gender in the Information Society: Emerging Issues, Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme, UNDP and Elsevier, New Delhi, pp. 96-109
To what extent do community media empower women? This study finds that community media initiatives perceive women as producers and contributors of media content and not just as consumers. Community media encourage greater involvement of women in technical, decisionmaking, and agenda-setting activities and have the potential to promote a balanced and nonstereotyped portrayal of women in the media.

Harris, U. S. (2009). 'Transforming Images: Reimagining Women's Work Through Participatory Video', Development in Practice, vol. 19, no. 4 & 5, pp. 538-549
How can participatory media support empowerment, dialogue and community building? This study of a participatory video workshop involving rural women in Fiji found that women integrated local norms and practices in their video production. They used social capital - relationships and social networks - as a key element. Women presented themselves as active citizens who made significant contributions to their families and communities. The project highlighted the importance of encouraging multi-ethnic or heterogeneous social networks in Fiji.

Changing attitudes and behaviour

Communication for Development (C4D)

The approach to Communication for Development (C4D) has evolved over the years. Initially developed after World War II as a tool for diffusion of ideas, communication initiatives primarily involved a one-way transmission of information from the sender to the receiver. This includes largescale media campaigns, social marketing, dissemination of printed materials, and 'educationentertainment'. Since then, C4D has broadened to incorporate interpersonal communication: faceto- face communication that can either be one-on-one or in small groups. This came alongside the general push for more participatory approaches to development and greater representation of voices from the South. The belief is that while mass media allows for the learning of new ideas, interpersonal networks encourage the shift from knowledge to continued practice.

Communication for development has thus come to be seen as a way to amplify voice, facilitate meaningful participation, and foster social change. The 2006 World Congress on Communication for Development defined C4D as 'a social process based on dialogue using a broad range of tools and methods. It is also about seeking change at different levels including listening, building trust, sharing knowledge and skills, building policies, debating and learning for sustained and meaningful change'. Such two-way, horizontal approaches to communication include public hearings, debates, deliberations and stakeholder consultations, participatory radio and video, community-based theatre and story-telling, and web forums.

Communication initiatives aimed at changing attitudes and behaviours

Communication initiatives aimed at changing attitudes and behaviours have increasingly been used in the health sector since the 1970s. Such initiatives - including television and radio shows, theatre, informational sessions and pamphlets - can and have affected social norms related to gender roles, since gender norms are linked to all facets of health behaviour. Initiatives that seek to affect gender norms and inequities as a goal in itself, however, are a relatively new phenomenon.

Community radio is considered to be an effective tool in promoting women's empowerment and participation in governance structures. Radio is often the primary source of information for women. It is accessible to local communities, transcends literacy barriers and uses local languages. Afghan Women's Hour, for example, aims to reach a large cross-section of women and offers a forum to discuss gender, social issues and women's rights. It was found that female listeners demonstrated a pronounced capacity to aspire, defined as the 'capacity of groups to envision alternatives and aspire to different futures' (Appadurai, cited in Bhanot et al., 2009, p. 13). Women developed specific aspirations in areas that had been recently covered by the programme segments. Their aspirations, however, were not particularly focused (Bhanot et al., 2009). Challenges with other community radio programme initiatives include women's general under-representation and in some cases, the negative portrayal of women.

Participatory approaches are considered to be an effective tool in encouraging alternate discourses, norms and practices, and in empowering women. The use of sketches and photography in participatory workshops, for example, has encouraged women who have traditionally been reluctant to engage in public forums to express themselves.

In order for the empowerment of women to have a genuine impact, opportunity structures also need to be addressed, such as conservative and male opinion. Afghan Women's Hour has a large male audience (research by BBC Media Action found that 39% of listeners were men), which provides a way to challenge male views on gender norms. Group educational activities, a common programme for men and boys, also have the potential to contribute to changes in attitudes on health issues and gender relations and, in some cases, changes in behaviour.

It is also important for communication initiatives to build on tradition and culture, not only because this can resonate better with communities, but because it can help to mute opposition from conservative segments of society. The involvement in projects of key community leaders such as teachers, cultural custodians and government officials is also important for greater impact and sustainable change.

Case studies

Morna, C. L., Mpofu, T. and Glenwright, D. (2010). 'Gender and Media Progress Study: Southern Africa Gender and Media Progress Study Southern Africa, Gender Links, Johannesburg
See full text

Tom, T. O. (2008). 'Enhancing Gender Equality in the Media in Eastern Africa', Regional Study, Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA), Djibouti
See full text

Malik, S. I. (2012). Writing from Inside Out: Accounts of Sudanese Women Working In the Media. Journal of Arts and Humanities, 1(2), 68-83.
See full text

Further resources
Haider, H., 2011, 'Communication Initiatives to Change Attitudes and Behaviours', GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report, Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, Birmingham
For discussion on gender and social media, see ' New media and citizenship' in the Gender and Citizenship section of this guide.

See the GSDRC's Topic Guide on Communication and Governance for more information on communication for development, communication for governance reform, and communication for social change.

Women Make the News (WMN) is a global policy advocacy initiative aimed at promoting gender equality in the media.

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Page contents Introduction Participation and influence of women in the media Media content and portrayal of men and women in the media Participatory community media Changing attitudes and behaviour Further resources Introduction Media play important roles in society. They report on current events, provide frameworks for interpretation, mobilise citizens with regard to various issues, reproduce ...